Poem by Patricia Sinzi Bamurangirwa, Rwanda (BLC service-user)

Africa

Forgive.
There are sins you can forgive or
Pretend to forgive, but you can't forget
My Africa, full of love
Peace and unity, of immeasurable richness

Your history is here. 1434
The first Europeans set foot in Africa
Things started to change
Not for better but for death.

They robbed them of their culture, their identity,
Their dignity.
They gave Africa a new map,
No African leader was present!
They called it international law!

Africa, mixed up with culture, languages,
Inter-marriages and confusion.
Africans dying from anger and hunger.
Poverty was the leader.
War after unnecessary war

African children dying day and night.
"Look," you can hear them say, "look how Africans are killing each other, how they are greedy, "
These dictators., this corruption
The children don't go to school,
Don't have shoes and still they are dying from hunger.

Brave Africa

Yet, Africa doesn't have to be tied up
With the past, follow your examples.
Wake up, wake up Africa
Follow the examples of Mandela and forgive,
But don't forget.

A time will come when you will say
Enough is enough.
Rwandans refuse to be tied to the past,
They have to forgive,
To forgive each other, and look to the future,
But not forget.

Children of Africa in Europe and America,
You have suffered in the name of slavery,
But don't be tied up with the past,
Forgive, or pretend to forgive, but don't forget.
Look to the future.
Together build back the continent,
The continent of Africa.
My Africa, full of love
Forgive